Following several days of fierce cross-border clashes, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire beginning Wednesday evening (October 15) at 6 p.m. local time. The decision, confirmed by Islamabad, aims to de-escalate one of the deadliest confrontations between the two neighbors in recent years. Pakistan stated that Afghanistan requested the ceasefire, though Kabul has yet to comment publicly. Earlier, Pakistan claimed it killed dozens of Afghan security personnel and militants during overnight operations, while destroying several Afghan tanks and military posts. In retaliation, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid reported that their forces destroyed a Pakistani border post and captured a tank. Tensions have been high as Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of sheltering militant groups responsible for terrorist attacks within its borders—a claim the Taliban government denies. Both sides have now pledged to pursue dialogue to find a peaceful and lasting resolution to the border crisis.

At least five people were killed and 35 others injured in a powerful explosion in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, just before a 48-hour ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan was due to take effect. According to AFP, which cited an Italian NGO operating a hospital in Kabul, emergency services received multiple casualties, including women and children. Dejan Panic, the NGO’s Country Director, reported that many of the wounded were brought in by ambulance and that the blast occurred just a few kilometers from their facility. Witnesses described hearing twin explosions and seeing thick black smoke rising above the city. Streets near the blast site were littered with shattered glass and debris from damaged buildings. The incident comes amid escalating border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which both sides have vowed to resolve through dialogue during the temporary ceasefire.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for killing 58 Pakistani soldiers and seizing 25 border posts during clashes on Saturday night along the Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier. Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban government in Kabul, stated that Afghan forces pushed Pakistani troops out of these posts, injuring at least 30 others. He warned Pakistan against future violations of Afghan sovereignty. Earlier, Pakistan had accused Afghan forces of violating its airspace and carrying out a market bombing, labeling its own operation as retaliatory. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the Afghan attacks as unprovoked, highlighting civilian casualties, and promised strict retaliation. Reports indicate that both sides used small arms and mortars in the Kunar-Kurram region. Several areas including Angoor Adda, Bajaur, Kurram, Dir, Chitral, and Baramcha witnessed heavy gunfire and shelling. The situation has raised concerns over escalating tensions along the volatile border.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan announced a nationwide internet shutdown aimed at stopping what it called “immoral activities.”

By Monday night, several networks had gone offline, affecting telephone services and creating a complete internet blackout. At least eight flights were canceled at Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport, while banking and business operations are expected to be severely disrupted.

Afghans abroad are unable to contact their families, while local media outlets report major disruptions to their operations. International news agencies AP and AFP also said they were unable to reach their Kabul bureaus.

In a shocking incident, a 13-year-old Afghan boy managed to travel from Kabul to Delhi by hiding inside the landing gear compartment of a commercial flight. The incident occurred on Sunday morning when Kam Air’s flight RQ-4401 landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport after a two-hour journey.

Authorities said the boy, from Kunduz city, sneaked into the Kabul airport and concealed himself in the rear central landing gear bay. After landing, he was spotted wandering near the aircraft’s security control room. Airline staff detained him and handed him over to security officials. During questioning, the boy admitted he entered the plane “out of curiosity.” By 12:30 p.m., he was deported back to Afghanistan on the same flight.

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Afghanistan again on Thursday, the third tremor to shake the region since Sunday.

According to local authorities, the epicenter was in Shiba district, near the Pakistan border, at a depth of 10 kilometers. Initial reports indicate damage in Bar Kashkot area.

Earlier quakes in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces left hundreds of villages destroyed, displacing hundreds of thousands, and injuring over 3,600 people. Rescue workers confirmed that Thursday’s quake raised the death toll to 2,205, with at least 3,640 injured.

The UN and aid agencies have warned that emergency supplies of food, medicine, and shelter are rapidly running out, raising fears of a worsening humanitarian crisis.

A powerful earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan on Sunday night, leaving at least 622 people dead and more than 1,500 injured.
According to the US Geological Survey, the 6.0-magnitude quake struck at 11:17 pm local time, with its epicenter 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad and a shallow depth of 8 kilometers.
Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said rescue operations are underway, with reinforcements arriving from nearby provinces.

A devastating earthquake hit eastern Afghanistan late Sunday night, leaving more than 250 people dead and at least 500 others injured, officials confirmed.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck at 11:17 PM local time, with its epicenter located 27 kilometers northeast of Jalalabad. The tremor, registering 6.0 on the Richter scale, had a shallow depth of just 8 kilometers, intensifying its destructive impact.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Information reported severe casualties across several districts of Kunar province, including Nurgal, Sawkai, Watapur, Manogi, and Chapa Dara. Authorities fear the death toll could rise further as many remote areas remain cut off, and rescue teams are still struggling to reach those locations.

Locals described it as one of the strongest quakes to hit the region in recent years. Meanwhile, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said local officials and residents have begun rescue operations, while additional relief teams from neighboring provinces are on their way to assist.

A strong 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan near the Pakistan border late Sunday night, killing more than 20 people and injuring over 115 others. Officials fear the death toll may rise.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck at 11:47 pm local time at a depth of just 8 kilometers. At least three aftershocks, ranging between 4.5 and 5.2 in magnitude, followed the initial tremor.

The worst-hit provinces are Nangarhar and Kunar, where hospitals are overwhelmed with the injured. Tremors were felt in Kabul for several seconds and even as far away as Islamabad.

Afghanistan has a tragic history of devastating earthquakes. In October 2023, a 6.3-magnitude quake killed at least 4,000 people in the country.

Kabul has summoned the Pakistani ambassador after alleged attacks by Pakistani forces in Nangarhar and Khost provinces. The Taliban government reported at least three civilian deaths and seven injuries. Afghan authorities accused Pakistan of violating airspace and carrying out provocative bombings near the Durand Line. While Pakistan has yet to officially respond, tensions persist over cross-border terrorism, trade restrictions, and stalled diplomatic talks. Recent drone strikes in Shinwar district highlight fragile bilateral relations and regional instability.

At least 71 people have been killed in a tragic bus accident in Afghanistan’s Herat province. Police reported on Tuesday that the crash was caused by “overspeeding and negligence.”

The victims were Afghan returnees deported from Iran. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed the deaths but said details on the identities were still pending.

The accident comes just a day after Iran’s Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, announced that 800,000 Afghans must leave Iran by March. Poor road conditions and frequent accidents plague Afghanistan—last December, two bus crashes claimed at least 52 lives.

According to UNHCR, nearly 450,000 Afghans have returned from Iran since June alone. Iran had set a July 6 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave. In total, more than 1.4 million Afghans have been repatriated or forcibly deported this year.

Afghanistan is experiencing the largest refugee return in its history, with the International Organization for Migration warning of a severe crisis. Nearly 1.5 million Afghans have been forced back in 2025 alone, part of a projected 4 million returning from Pakistan and Iran between 2023–2025. Half are women and girls, facing risks such as poverty, child marriage, and abuse. The UN urges global support, while the Taliban government denies a crisis, claiming to protect women’s rights and prevent forced marriages.

The spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Islamic Emirate, Zabihullah Mujahid, criticizes the International Criminal Court (ICC) for ignoring Israel’s alleged crimes in Gaza while issuing arrest warrants against Afghan leaders implementing Islamic law. He denounces the court’s double standards and rejects its authority. Analysts suggest that internal Afghan issues should be resolved through dialogue rather than external sanctions. The UN respects the ICC’s independence but faces calls to recognize Afghanistan diplomatically and address the situation through negotiations.

Following the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan but remain largely unrecognized internationally. Russia recently became the first country to formally recognize the Taliban government, while China has extended economic support and diplomatic engagement. India and Iran have also shifted their approaches, balancing security and strategic interests. Despite strained relations with Pakistan, several nations continue cautious diplomacy with the Taliban, driven by practical and security considerations. Experts anticipate more countries may follow Russia’s lead in formal recognition.

Afghanistan’s capital Kabul is at risk of becoming the world’s first modern city to run completely out of water by 2030. Excessive groundwater extraction, climate change, and population growth have drastically lowered water levels, threatening nearly 3 million residents with scarcity and displacement. UNICEF reports half the deep wells are already dry, and 80% of underground water is contaminated. Experts warn urgent infrastructure improvements and international cooperation are needed, but sanctions and instability hinder effective solutions.